Biography

Susanta Mandal, born in Kolkata, is known for his installation art. He earned a BFA in painting from the Government College of Arts and Craft in Kolkata and later pursued an MFA in painting from Banaras Hindu University.  He has been working at the intersection of art and technology for more than 20 years.

In Mandal’s works, quotidian materials and events invite viewers to witness and confront raw reality in interactive environments. His mixed media installations, which often utilize spotlights and kinetic mechanisms, seem playful but are ultimately disconcerting constructions.

Mandal has shown his works at numerous international exhibitions, such as, 3rd Nanjing triennial, ‘Reflective Asia’, Nanjing, China; India Xianzai, 20 Indian artists’, MOCA, Shanghai; 50 Years of Contemporary Art, Chemould Gallery, Mumbai; ‘Whorled Explorations’, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kochi, India;  ‘Making History’ ,Colombo Art Biennale, Colombo; ‘Small Art is Beautiful’ curated by Fabrice Bousteau, Beirut Art Fair, Lebanon, ‘The Contemporary 2, Who Interprets the World?’ at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. Japan; Detritus: Matter out of Place, Serendipity Arts festival at Goa; ‘Chobi Mela IX’, International festival of photography, Bangladesh; Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai; ‘Very small feelings’, Dhaka art Summit. Dhaka, Bangladesh, and KNMA, Delhi; ‘Planetary Scale’,Filet, London etc.

Susanta Mandal has also had five solo shows in Kolkata, Bangalore, and Delhi.  He is also a member of the LAYOUT Artists’ Collective, formed in Delhi in 2011, which focuses on collaborative art projects in diverse global locations including India, Sri Lanka, and Zurich.